Journal of Researches of Quran and Hadith Sciences
Year:2009 | Volume:5 | Issue:2 (10)|Papers Count:8

The development of social sciences has given new explanations for the cause of different commentaries on a text in different historical eras. The concept of social convention and its affect on understanding a text is one of these views. Using this concept, we can contribute to the better understanding of the changing interpretation of Quran in the Muslim history. in this article we have considered exegetes' view on the verse". God does not change what any people may have until they change whatever they themselves have... " (Q: XIII-11), classifyiedit and analyzed it according to the concept of social convention. Our study reveals that in the contemporary era, due to Muslim's revival and the introduction of reformist movement, a new interpretation of the word change (tagyiir) in the above mentioned verse has been seen i.e. change from the bad condition to a good one, while the word was interpreted earlier as change from good conditions to a bad one. With regard to the historical study of the social grounds for such a change in the contemporary commentaries, this article has introduced "positive aspect of change" as the social convention effective in the development of this new understanding of the verse.

Sanayi is one of the Persian poets who have paid a special attention to Quran in their writings. As a conscious Muslim and a poet deeply affected by the rhetoric aspect of Quran, Sanayi considers the main feature of Quran' s miracle, its eloquent words and particular and inimitatable order of words and its comprehensive meanings which embrace all the knowledge of human beings. Accordingly he calls the nation of Islam to make the best of this fountain of spiritual life and source of guidance besides the prophet's progeny. He believes in order to benefit from the light of guidance of this divine word, one should require both outward and inward purity and he should deliberate on it by an intellect enlightened by this divine light. Only then he will be able to see the hidden truth of Quran and understand its ambiguous verses. The only possible way to reach the core of religion and attain certainty is by following this path; otherwise Quran will not show its real face to his readers and they will be deprived from the remedial script of Quran. He asserts that on the day of resurrection, Quran will complain from those believers not acting according to Quranic teachings.

The knowledge of being meccan or medinite concerning the chapters and verses of the Quran has a significant role in the correct interpretation of this holy book. Therefore, in order to indentify this aspect of the verses, scholars have showed much effort in different ways, all through centuries since early islam till now. At the beginning, the Companions were questioned about it; later on, their sayings and that of the Successors took the form of hadith with different classifications: some expressing rules for recognition of these kind of verses; a variety of them specifying particular cases; others indicating the chronology of revelation and a number of them stating the cause of revelation. These traditions have become the main proofs for this kind of classification of verses and chapters. During the long scholastic history of this study, from the time of the Companions till the last two centuries, the efforts for recognition of the meccan and medinite verses can be classified in the following three approaches:1. Based on hadiths, as the main proof which usually on the time of contradictory traditions ended to both exclusion of numerous verses from the whole chapter and belief in re-descendent of the verse or chapter or its revelation in the road between Mecca and Medina,2. Based on identifying rules, the result of which has been few rules regarding the subject of the meccan and medinite verses,3. Based on form and content of verses which has been usually depending on the subject of the traditions concerning the cause of revelation and not the proper verses.In the two recent centuries new approaches can be seen employing different data including: statistical details about verses and chapters, style, tone and length of verses and the content of the verses. These recent scholars have given new solutions to the problem of contradictory traditions without accepting re-descendent of verses or its exclusion from the whole chapter.Consequently to reach a proper method, with least error, all the clues and evidences should be taken into consideration.

Bayan al-ma' ani is the first quranic commentary which covers the whole suras of the holy Quran having a historical approach based on the chronological order of revelation. Abdul Gader Mulla Huwaysh al-Gazi, a contemporary exegete interprets Quran following a rational approach according to a variety of sources with regard to the order of the verses and requirements of revelations. The critical study of the interpretative method of Mulla Huwaysh al-Gazi is one of the most significant objects of the present article. It is worth noting that this exegesis is still unknown to many scholars in the field ofQuran interpretation.

The tradition "I came to know Allah by the abolishment of decisions" (Nahj-ul-balag.ah, Hekmat 250) narrated by Imam Ali presents a path different from the arguments of philosophers and theologians on the subject of theology to the truth-seekers. In his word, Imam Ali elaborates this path as reliance on the divinity of God and His management of affairs.There are different versions of this hadith with varying phrases in early sources as well as recent ones, particularly in the books of Shaikh Sadugh, the inspection of its chain of narrators, on the whole leaves it nearly without any trace of doubt that this saying has been uttered by the Imam. Examining the authenticity of this hadith has been the main objective of this article providing the neccassary ground so that deliberation on its meaning would be followed with more esteem.

Tolerance means practical patience with the opponents, respecting their social rights. This issue can be discussed in different fields. In the field of religion it comprise the adherents of different religions, divine or non divine religions even the followers of atheist schools.Discussing Quran's stand about this issue, the required situation for respecting these rights and the religions and schools of thought included is the main purpose of this article. According to our study Quran permits or further appreciates tolerance and benevolence towards all the human species; the only exception, derived from Quranic verses, are those who are in war with Muslims or those oppressing weak people and depriving them from their rights-although non Muslim.